. Lesson1- What Causes Earthquakes Lesson Overview This lesson is designed to be an inquiry based lesson. It is designed to introduce the unit Formation of the Earth’s Surface. To open the lesson I will inform the students that they are going to watch a YouTube video and I want them to guess what they are watching. The students will brainstorm and give their answers out loud. Students should be able to conclude that it was an earthquake. If not, I will ask guided questions to illustrate the correct response. Then students will work in partners to complete the first two columns of a KWL graphic organizer, what they KNOW and what they WANT to know about earthquakes. As a class, we will complete a KWL on an overhead projector from the ideas they generated with their partners.. Once the first two columns are complete on the overhead the students will stay in partners and use the lap tops to complete the LEARNED column using http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/. . Learning Performances The KWL will help the students structure what they know about earthquakes, what they want to know and what they have learned. The goal of this lesson is for students to inquire about what causes an earthquake. The students will research earthquakes on-line to answer questions they generated through class discussion. Links to Standards or Benchmarks
See standards Materials Needed Lap Tops (they will be in the classroom)
KWL graphic organizer Overhead projector
Time Required- (50 mins)
Instructional Sequence
5 minutes to show YouTube video and discuss
10 minutes to complete first two columns of the KWL in pairs and as a class
25 minutes to search U.S. geological website and complete the last column of the KWL
10 minutes to complete the last column as a class and discuss what they have learned
Introducing the lesson
Ø Explain to the students they are about to watch a YouTube video and they need to guess what they are watching.
Ø The students will brainstorm and, and I will write their ideas on the board. They should be able to conclude it is an earthquake. If not, I will ask guiding questions to elicit the correct response such as:
- What did you see?
- Why do you think this?
- Give evidence from the video to support your answer.
The YouTube video should peek the students’ interest, and motivate them to be active during the lesson.
Ø All the materials will be handed out to the students and as a class we will go over the directions.
-I will establish the ground rules for using the computers- such as safe handling and students are expected to stay on the correct website. Instructional Activities ØWorking in pairs, the class will complete the first two columns, what they know and want to know about earthquakes. ØNext, the class will generate the first two columns on the overhead KWL from the ideas produced in their groups. One goal of this lesson is for students to inquire about what causes an earthquake? If the students do not generate this question I will guide them, by asking, "What do you think causes an earthquake?" If they can answer this question then this information will go in the Know column and if not the question will go in the Want to know column.
Ø Then the class will transition to using the laptops. The students will use the computers to search the Geological survey website, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/, to answer the questions placed in the want to know column. Concluding the Lesson
Ø The last 10 minutes of class time will be used to complete the KWL overhead as a class and fill in the Learned column. The students will discover that earthquakes are caused by the movement of the Earth’s plates. The class will also be able to discuss what else they learned when looking at the geological survey website, such as magnitudes and frequency of earthquakes. Students will be asked to go home and ask if any of their family members have been affected by earthquakes. Assessing Student Understanding The KWL will be handed in and used to gear how much the students already know about the subject and any misconceptions they may have about the topic. No formal grade will be given. They will be receive homework credit or class credit for this assignment. Cautions
The students will have to maintain good behavior and be careful handling the lap tops so nothing breaks. Also students must stay focused and stay on the correct website. Sources www.kathyschrock.com Teaching Resources KWL Worksheet Rationale
When developing this lesson I wanted to develop an inquiry based lesson to start the unit. I wanted the lesson to interest the students and get them thinking about earthquakes and plate movements. I also wanted the lesson to give me an idea of what the students already know, and any misconceptions they have about the topic. Using the KWL allows me to see what the students already know about earthquakes and it also gives me an idea what interests them about the topic in the ‘want to know column’. I wanted the lesson to be inquiry based and keep the students on the same page. Going over the KWL as a class will keep the whole class well informed and give the students the repetition they need to understand the concepts. Using the internet site gives the student free range to look and explore what they want while still staying focused on the question they developed in the second "Want" column. The ultimate goal of this lesson is for the students to discover what causes earthquakes.
Lesson1- What Causes Earthquakes
Lesson Overview
This lesson is designed to be an inquiry based lesson. It is designed to introduce the unit Formation of the Earth’s Surface. To open the lesson I will inform the students that they are going to watch a YouTube video and I want them to guess what they are watching. The students will brainstorm and give their answers out loud. Students should be able to conclude that it was an earthquake. If not, I will ask guided questions to illustrate the correct response. Then students will work in partners to complete the first two columns of a KWL graphic organizer, what they KNOW and what they WANT to know about earthquakes. As a class, we will complete a KWL on an overhead projector from the ideas they generated with their partners.. Once the first two columns are complete on the overhead the students will stay in partners and use the lap tops to complete the LEARNED column using http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/. .
Learning Performances
The KWL will help the students structure what they know about earthquakes, what they want to know and what they have learned. The goal of this lesson is for students to inquire about what causes an earthquake. The students will research earthquakes on-line to answer questions they generated through class discussion.
Links to Standards or Benchmarks
See standards
Materials Needed
Lap Tops (they will be in the classroom)
KWL graphic organizer
Overhead projector
Time Required- (50 mins)
Instructional Sequence
5 minutes to show YouTube video and discuss
10 minutes to complete first two columns of the KWL in pairs and as a class
25 minutes to search U.S. geological website and complete the last column of the KWL
10 minutes to complete the last column as a class and discuss what they have learned
Introducing the lesson
Ø Explain to the students they are about to watch a YouTube video and they need to guess what they are watching.
Ø The students will brainstorm and, and I will write their ideas on the board. They should be able to conclude it is an earthquake. If not, I will ask guiding questions to elicit the correct response such as:
- What did you see?
- Why do you think this?
- Give evidence from the video to support your answer.
The YouTube video should peek the students’ interest, and motivate them to be active during the lesson.
Ø All the materials will be handed out to the students and as a class we will go over the directions.
-I will establish the ground rules for using the computers- such as safe handling and students are expected to stay on the correct website.
Instructional Activities
Ø Working in pairs, the class will complete the first two columns, what they know and want to know about earthquakes.
Ø Next, the class will generate the first two columns on the overhead KWL from the ideas produced in their groups. One goal of this lesson is for students to inquire about what causes an earthquake? If the students do not generate this question I will guide them, by asking, "What do you think causes an earthquake?" If they can answer this question then this information will go in the Know column and if not the question will go in the Want to know column.
Ø Then the class will transition to using the laptops. The students will use the computers to search the Geological survey website, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/, to answer the questions placed in the want to know column.
Concluding the Lesson
Ø The last 10 minutes of class time will be used to complete the KWL overhead as a class and fill in the Learned column. The students will discover that earthquakes are caused by the movement of the Earth’s plates. The class will also be able to discuss what else they learned when looking at the geological survey website, such as magnitudes and frequency of earthquakes. Students will be asked to go home and ask if any of their family members have been affected by earthquakes.
Assessing Student Understanding
The KWL will be handed in and used to gear how much the students already know about the subject and any misconceptions they may have about the topic. No formal grade will be given. They will be receive homework credit or class credit for this assignment.
Cautions
The students will have to maintain good behavior and be careful handling the lap tops so nothing breaks. Also students must stay focused and stay on the correct website.
Sources
www.kathyschrock.com
Teaching Resources
KWL Worksheet
Rationale
When developing this lesson I wanted to develop an inquiry based lesson to start the unit. I wanted the lesson to interest the students and get them thinking about earthquakes and plate movements. I also wanted the lesson to give me an idea of what the students already know, and any misconceptions they have about the topic. Using the KWL allows me to see what the students already know about earthquakes and it also gives me an idea what interests them about the topic in the ‘want to know column’. I wanted the lesson to be inquiry based and keep the students on the same page. Going over the KWL as a class will keep the whole class well informed and give the students the repetition they need to understand the concepts. Using the internet site gives the student free range to look and explore what they want while still staying focused on the question they developed in the second "Want" column. The ultimate goal of this lesson is for the students to discover what causes earthquakes.